Golf bag

ABSTRACT

A golf bag of relatively large size and having a generally tubular shape. The bag includes a pliable bag body member and substantially rigid collar and base members readily detachable from the body member preferably by means of respective slide fasteners encircling the end portions of the bag such that when it is desirable to transport the golf bag including a set of golf clubs for example in the trunk of an automobile, the collar and base members may be quickly removed so that the pliable tubular body member can then be compacted lengthwise to reduce the volume and thereby minimize the space requirements. At the desired destination, the collar and base members are reattached for normal use. The pliable tubular body may also include a soft end member permanently attached to the end of the bag body having the rigid end member connected thereto, being adapted to prevent removal of the clubs from that end even when the rigid end member is removed. Also a pliable hood permanently attached to the other end of the bag body to which is connected the collar member, may be utilized, the hood having means for providing a closable opening therein so that it can be deployed to close that end portion when the collar is removed. In another embodiment a separate pliable travel hood and/or soft base member connectable to the bag in place of the removed rigid collar and base member may be utilized.

United States Patent [191 Piece 1 1 Aug. 26, 1975 GOLF BAG [76] Inventor: William A. Picco, 12433 Surrey Circle Dr., Tantallon, Md. 20022 [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 429,034

Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Atwrney, Agent, or Firm-W. L. Gates; Rupcrt .1. Brady; James G. OBoyle 5 7 ABSTRACT A golf bag of relatively large size and having a generally tubular shape. The bag includes a pliable bag body member and substantially rigid collar and base members readily detachable from the body member preferably by means of respective slide fasteners encircling the end portions of the bag such that when it is desirable to transport the golf bag including a set of golf clubs for example in the trunk of an automobile, the collar and base members may be quickly removed so that the pliable tubular body member can then be compacted lengthwise to reduce the volume and thereby minimize the space requirements. At the desired destination, the collar and base members are reattached for normal use. The pliable tubular body may also include a soft end member permanently attached to the end of the bag body having the rigid end member connected thereto, being adapted to prevent removal of the clubs from that end even when the rigid end member is removed. Also a pliable hood permanently attached to the other end of the bag body to which is connected the collar member, may be utilized, the hood having means for providing a closable opening therein so that it can be deployed to close that end portion when the collar is removed. In another embodiment a separate pliable travel hood and- /or soft base member connectable to the bag in place of the removed rigid collar and base member may be utilized.

7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTED Ans-261915 sum 1 n; 2 v

PATENTE AUGZB i975 SHEET 2 OF 2 GOLF BAG BACKGROUND or THE. INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relates to golf bags and more particu- 5 larly to a golf bag having a relatively large volume and cross sectional dimension, said bag having a novel construction facilitating compaction of the bag during travel with subsequent expansion to a normal useage shape during play.

2. Description of the Prior Art Golf bags are articles of manufacture widely known and used by various types of golfers. Golf bags can be obtainedin an almost limitless variety of shapes and sizes. There are those types of golf bags which are relatively inexpensive, or of relatively small size in weight and volume, which is readily adapted to be carried by the golfer himself. Then there are those types of golf bags which are relatively large in construction, having a relatively large aperture for the reception of golf clubs as well as several zippered pockets adapted to retain not only golf balls, but traveling hoods, clothing, shoes, etc. The latter type of bag is relatively heavy and takes up considerable space and presents a very definite problem due to its bulk when being transported in the luggage compartmenfor trunk of a vehicle such as an automobile. The problem is particularly acute when additional luggage is desired to be transported in the same compartmentQfFor example, where four persons each having a golf bag of the latter type attempts to fit their respective golf bags into the trunk of an automobile together with their luggage, the space occupied by the golf bags themselves unduly limits the amount of luggage that might otherwise be carried with ease in the luggage compartment of the autombile. Although providing an attractive appearance as well as being adapted to carry many accessories, the large tournament or club type bags as opposed to the Sunday type bags are extremely wasteful of space, presenting a real problem where limited stowage spaceis available during transport.

SUMMARY Accordingly, the present invention directs itself to the relatively large type of golf bags having rigid collar and pan type base members connected to a generally tubular pliable body member. Briefly,- the subject invention comprises a golf bag adapted for selective compaction for reducing the volume thereof during periods of non-play, for example travel. The bag includes a substantially pliable tubular bag'body member adapted to hold golf clubs and substantially rigid vcollar and base members normally connected to opposite ends of the body member to impart a normal useage shape to the bag, and respective quick releasable fastener means attaching said collar and base members to the body member. The fastener means preferably comprises slide fasteners running circumferentially around the golfbag readily providing for easy removal and reassemblyof the collar and base elements depending upon the instant mode of use desired. The bag body member may also include a permanently attached pliable base member and/or a pliable hood. Also, an individual pliable base member and/or hood may be connected to the pliable body member in place of the rigid collar and base member by said fastener means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the rigid collar removed from the bag body;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the rigid base member removed from the bag body;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 adaptedto receive a pliable hood member in place of the rigid collar; i

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 adapted to receive a pliable base member in place of the rigid base member;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top portion of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1 additionally incorporating a permanently attached pliable hood which is deployable, for example, after the rigid collar is removed as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom portion of the golf bag shown in FIG. I additionally including a permanently attached pliable base member becoming visible and coming into use when the rigid base member is removed as shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 8a and 8b are fragmentary views disclosing the addition of a protective apron adapted to cover the quick releasable fastener means for either the rigid collar and/or rigid base member shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 when attached to the bag body;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of quick releasable fastener means;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third embodiment of quick releasable fastener means;

FIGS. 11a and 11b are fragmentary perspective views of a fourth embodiment of quick releasable fastener means; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the lower portion of a bag illustrating the relative position of a combined pliable and a rigid base member secured to the bag body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 refers to a golf bag of the heavy or bulky type comprised of a generally tubular elongated bag body member 22 formed of substantially pliable material such as leather, canvas, plastic or the like. The bag body member 22 in normal use is open at the top 24 and closed at the bottom 26. The top end of the body 22 terminates in a substantially rigid cuff or collar 28 while the lower end of the body terminates in a substantially rigid pan type base member 30. These elements connected to opposite ends of the bag body comprise forming and stabilizing means as well as imparting a normal useage shape to the bag. The geometrical cross section of the body 22, the collar 28 and the base 30 are substantially the same taking the form of any of the readily known geometrical shapes such as circles, ovals,- ellipses, rounded corner rectangles, etc.

The bag body member 22 normally includes a handle 32 permanently attached near the upper end of the bag. -A shoulder strap 34 is also attached at least at one end to the body.22 preferably toward the lower end, while the upper endeithersecures directly to the bag body or the collar 28 as shown'. The bag body member 22 also additionally includes on'e or more pockets 36 cated near thelower eridf of the body and when desirable, a pocket 38 which runs 'le ngthwise along "the body. The pockets, handles and straps are generally of well known construction and are merely recited to illustrate the general nature of the golf bag under consideration. Golf clubs, not shown, are inserted and removed from the open end 24 and are partially 'supported by thecollar 28 when the bag is in a prone or inclined position and by the base while in a substantially upright position. The dimension of the mouth of the golf bag 20 is defined by the size of the coll ar 28, and normally defines across sectional area which is far greater than that occupied by the golf clubs in the bag. Additionally, the collar 28 may contain one or more divider members, not shown, for segregating the golf clubs, for example, separating the woods from the irons. a i i In conventional golf bags, during manufacture or assembly the relatively rigid collar 28 and the relatively rigid base 30, are both permanently mated to the body 22 by means of stitching or some type of permanent fastener elements suchas rivets and bolts or the like. The resulting configuration while being suitably adapted for normal use,.i.e., holding golf clubs and other equipment during play presents somewhat of a difficult and undesirable problem during travel where space limitationsfor luggage and the like is limited. This is particularly true where several golf bags are to be transported in the trunk portion of an automobile. The problem particularly arises for example where two to fourpersons having relatively large and bulkygolf bags desire to stow theirgolfbags in an automobile 'alon g with various other and sundry luggage. Withfour people it becomes an almost impossible task ,tofit all of the golf bags and luggage into the trunk or luggage compartment. Accordingly, the present inventionpermits compaction of the golf bag during travel by making the relatively rigid collar and base members 28 and 30 readily removable, i.e., disconnectable and subsequently reattachable, i.e., connectable so that the space occupied by the golf bag while in normal use is reduced during travel or other non-play periods, thereby eliminating or at least substantially reducing, space requirement in the vehicle or' other storage compartment.

The preferred embodiment of the subject invention, accordingly includes a first directly hand operable quick releasable fastener means in the form of a slide fastener comrnonly referred to as a zipper which circumferentially joins the substantially rigid collar '28 from the top of the bag. In the same fashion second directly hand operable quick releasable fastener means in the form of a slide fastener 42 is adapted to circumferentially connect the rigid pan type base member 30 to the pliable lower portion of the bag body member 22, it being readily operable as shown in FIG. 3 to permit separation of the base 30 from the bag 22 by unzipping the slide fastener. V

As used herein, the term fdirectly hand operable quick-releasable fastener means will be understood to describe that class of separable fastenerwhich may be operated directly and entirely by hand without the need 1 for tools. This would include such commonly known hand operated fastener means'as slide fasteners, snap fasteners, permanent magnet fasteners, Velcro fasteners, and other simple forms of manual fasteners which do not require complex and time-consuming manipulation.

' FIG. 3 also generally discloses a plurality of longitudinal stiffener members 44 which are adapted to provide a certain degree of vertical rigidity for the bag body while permitting lengthwise compaction when the collar 28 and base member 30 are separated from the bag. Thus with the pliable body portion 22 and readily removable rigid collar and base members removed, the bag can be placed, for example, in the trunk of an automobile and compressed even with the golf clubs therein to a relatively smaller volume. Once the golf bag 20 has reached its destination following travel, it is a simple matter to reconnect the collar 28 and the base member 30 back to the body 22 by means of the respective slide fasteners 40 and 42. The procedure of dismantling and reassembly of the three major elements of the golf bag as shown in FIGS. l-3 is comparatively simple and easy to perform. I

Turning attention now to further modifications and additions to the preferred embodiment described thus far, attention is now directed to FIGS. 4 and 5. The concept disclosed with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 is to provide a means for the prevention of the golf clubs from sliding or falling out of either end 24m 26 of the bag body 22 when the rigid collar 28 and the base 30 are removed prior to and/or during a state of compac tiondesired for example during travel. Accordingly,

the teaching of FIG. 4 contemplates the addition of a pliable hood 46 having a'slide fastener element 40b adapted to mate with the fastener element 40a which is permanently attached to the upper portion of the bag body 22. In the same fashion, FIG. 5 contemplates the *addition of a pliable base member 48 having a fastener element 42b which is adapted to mate with the slide fastener element 42a permanently attached to the bottom portion of the bag body 22. As such, when the pliable hood 46 and pliable base 48 are zippered onto the upper and lower end of the bag body member 22, a lengthwise compressable closed container for the golf clubs is readily adaptable for compaction in the manner previously described.

Springing from the contemplated use of a separate pliablehood and base member attached in place of the rigid collar and base member, the bag body member 22 may preferably be equipped with permanently attached hood 50 and a permanently attached pliable base portion 52 covering the end of the body member 22 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. Considering FIG. 6 further, the pliable hood disclosed thereat is comprised of two half sections 54 and 56 which are stitched to the inside of the upper bag portion .22 and joinable by means of a slide fastener 58 to provide a closure for the end of the golf bag. When for example the rigid collar 28 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is connected to the bag by means of the zippered elements 40a and 40b, the slide fastener 58 would be completely open such that the hood sections 54 and 56 would hang down inside of the golf bag body along the inner wall thereof so as to not present any obstructions to the golf clubs in the bag. The hood 50 only comes into operation when it is desired to close off the upper end 24 of the golf bag either with or without the rigid collar 28. Thus the hood 50 could be used not only for travel, but also as a rain covering for the golf clubs during play.

The pliable base element 52, however, being stitched into the inner portion of the bag body 24 adjacent the zipper element 42a provides a permanent closure for the lower end 26 of the golf bag and the base pan or element 30 when connected to the golf bag merely acts as an expansible member providing the desired shaping and rigidity. It can be seen with reference to FIG. 12, for example, that the pliable base element 52 is adapted to rest on the rigid base 30 when it is attached to the body member 22.

Because the connecting means adapted to attach the rigid collar 28 and base pan 30 to the bag body may not be operated for long periods of time, it also becomes desirable to protect the quick releasable fasteners for example the slide fastener 42 from dirt, rain, mud, etc. during normal useage. Accordingly, FIGS. 8a and 8b disclose the use of a flexible apron member 60 which is permanently secured to the outer surface of the bag body 22 adjacent the zipper element 42a and running around the periphery of the golf bag adjacent the slide fastener located thereat. The apron 60 is comprised of a flexible material such that when the slide fastener element is closed joining the elements 42a and 42b together, the apron 60 can be rolled down over the slide fastener protecting it from the elements tending to render the fastener means inoperative. A corresponding apron can also be utilized in conjunction with the upper slide fastener element 40 shown in FIG. 1. Also, when desirable, the attachment of the apron can be reversed such as to the base element 30 or the collar 28.

While the preferred means of connecting the collar and base elements to the bag body is by slide fastener or zipper means, FIGS. 9, and 11 disclose three other manually operable quick releasable means for facilitating easy removal and reattachment to the rigid collar and base to the bag body. For example, in FIG. 9, a strap and buckle arrangement is shown therein where, for example, a pair of straps 62 and 64 permanently attached to the lower portion of the bag body 22 run through respective grooves 66 and 68 in the outer face of the rigid base 30 and connect to a respective buckle, one of which is shown by reference numeral 70 adapted to connect to strap 64. When desirable, the buckle could be of the latch type.

A third quick disconnect means for releasing and attaching either the rigid collar 28 or rigid base 30 to the bag body member 22 is by means of a snap fastener arrangement one example of which is shown in FIG. 10. In this configuration, the lower portion of the-bag body has a cuff 72 of substantially flexible material attached to the lower portion of the bag body member 22 and being adapted to fit over the outer side wall 74 of the base 30. The cuff 72 contains a plurality of male or female snap fastener elements 74a which are adapted to mate with corresponding opposite type snap fastener elements 74b contained in the side wall 73 of the base member 30. Thus the joining of the snap fastener 74 provides a quick and reliable means of releasably joining either of the rigid end members 28 and 30 to the bag body member 22.

Still another means of connecting one end of the pliable bag body 22 to either of the substantially rigid end members 28 or 30, they being readily removable and thereafter attachable to permit lengthwise compaction of the body member, comprises a series or a set of interdigitated eyelets which are alternately attached to the body 22 and for example the base 30 such as shown in FIG. llapThe eyelets 76, for example, comprise small loops of -material secured to the body 22 by means of a band member 78 whereas the eyelets 80 on the base member comprise small loops attached thereto by means of the band 82. When brought together, such as shown in FIG. 1112, a wire or band element 84 encircling the periphery of the joined members is threaded through the eyelets 76 and 80. The element 84 also includes means, not shown, for joining the opposite ends thereof together.

What has been shown and described, therefore, is a novel golf bag arrangement which facilitates'transportation of relatively large and bulky golf bags during travel by providing readily removable and subsequent reattachable relatively rigid collar and base pan elements connected to a pliable bag body by means of manually operable relatively fast acting coupling means whereby the pliable bag body containing golf clubs is adapted to be selectively compressed or compacted lengthwise and thereafter being adapted to be quickly reassembled to provide an expanded golf bag for nor mal useage.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible golf bag particularly adapted for transporting in a flattened state with detached rigid end members and being readily returnable to an expanded normal usage form with the attachment of said rigid end members to said bag, and said golf bag having a flexible body portion of generally tubular form adapted to be flattened while golf clubs are disposed therein, and a pair of rigid forming and stabilizing end members means releasably attachable to respective opposite ends of said bag body portion to maintain the same in said normal expanded usage form, wherein the improvement comprises directly hand operable quick releasable fastener means respectively attaching said rigid forming and stabilizing end members means to said opposite ends of the tubular bag body portion.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fastener means comprises cooperating components carried by the opposite ends of the bag body portion and said forming and stabilizing means respectively.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fastener means is a slide fastener.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fastener means is a series of snap fasteners.

5. The structure as defined in claim I, and wherein said improvement additionally comprises a substantially pliable end closure element on one end of said bag body portion to prevent dislocation of golf clubs in the body portion following removal of said rigid forming and stabilizing means from the bag body portion.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5, and said pliable end closure element being permanently secured to the bag body portion.

7. The structure as defined in claim 5, and said pliable end closure element being detachably secured to the bag body portion. 

1. In a collapsible golf bag particularly adapted for transporting in a flattened state with detached rigid end members and being readily returnable to an expanded normal usage form with the attachment of said rigid end members to said bag, and said golf bag having a flexible body portion of generally tubular form adapted to be flattened while golf clubs are disposed therein, and a pair of rigid forming and stabilizing end members means releasably attachable to respective opposite ends of said bag body portion to maintain the same in said normal expanded usage form, wherein the improvement comprises directly hand operable quick releasable fastener means respectively attaching said rigid forming and stabilizing end members means to said opposite ends of the tubular bag body portion.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fastener means comprises cooperating components carried by the opposite ends of the bag body portion and said forming and stabilizing means respectively.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fastener means is a slide fastener.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fastener means is a series of snap fasteners.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 1, and wherein said improvement additionally comprises a substantially pliable end closure element on one end of said bag body portion to prevent dislocation of golf clubs in the body portion following removal of said rigid forming and stabilizing means from the bag body portion.
 6. The structure as defined in claim 5, and said pliable end closure element being permanently secured to the bag body portion.
 7. The structure as defined in claim 5, and said pliable end closure element being detachably secured to the bag body portion. 